Containers for flowable semi-solid materials



Sept. 18, 1956 R. E. SHVETZ 6 CONTAINERS FOR FLOWABLE SEMI-SOLID MATERIALS Filed Jan. 25, 1954 Tlqj. g Z2 40 /7 INVENTOR f/v/z/v f. 52,7572

TT RNEY Wis United States Patent Ofiice 2,763,405 Patented Sept. 18, 1956 CONTAINERS FOR FLOWABLE SEMI-SOLID MATERIALS Roman E. Shvetz, New York, N. Y. Application January 25, 1954, Serial No. 405,932 3 Claims. Cl. 222-320) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 352,917, filed May 4, 1953, now abandoned.

This invention relates to containers, and especially to containers of flowable semi-solid materials such as cold creams and a wide variety of ointments which are normally sold in jars and dipped therefrom with the users finger. When such materials are dipped out of 'a jar by the finger, they tend to spread all over the finger and to get under the finger nails, with, in many instances, messy and dirt-gathering results. In addition, there is a tendency for the material to be pushed over the edge of the container due to the pressure of the finger as it dips into the contents, with the result that the container is unsightly, and, if a screw cap is used, that the material remains in the screw thread. i

I have found that the necessity of dipping the finger into such creams and ointments can be avoided by the provision of an auxiliary interior cover which is formed of stiff, flexible material, which has an opening therein thru which the contents may be extruded when pressure is applied to the interior cover, and a resilient peripheral portion which is offset laterally before insertion into the jar, and which bears outwardly against the sides of the jar when in place. In this manner the cover may be so disposed in the container that the tendency toward extrusion of material at the sides of the cover can be substantially eliminated. The interior cover serves additionally to prevent the drying or other deterioration of the contents. I have also found that by forming a cover of transparent material, the appearance of the contents can be greatly improved.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the articles hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a transverse sectional view of one form of container embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the cap removed and the interior cover in operation;

Fig. 3 is a top view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a top view of the interior cover;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the line 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a similar view of another form of interior cover embodying the invention in certain of its aspects;

Fig. 7 is a similar view of still another form of interior cover embodying the invention in certain of its aspects;

Fig. 8 is a similar view of a third form of interior cover embodying the invention in certain of its aspects;

Fig. 9 is a similar view of a fourth form of interior cover embodying the invention in certain of its aspects;

Fig. 10 is a similar view of a fifth form of interior cover embodying the invention in certain of its aspects;

Fig. 11 is a similar view of a sixth form of interior cover embodying the invention in certain of its aspects; and

Fig. 12 is a similar view of a seventh form of interior cover embodying the invention in certain of its aspects.

In the form of construction exemplified in Figs. 1-5, there is provided a container comprising a containerportion in the nature of a jar 12 having a neck formed with securing-threads 13 to which a cap-portion 14 may be secured by means of threads 13. The inner lateral wall of the jar has a slight taper inwardly and downwardly which is exaggerated somewhat in the drawing, and has at its bottom an inwardly curved portion 15 and at itsupper end a beveled portion 17. Over the contents 20 there is provided an .interior cover 22 having, in the present instance, a turned-up central portion 24 formed with a central opening 25 which maybe about the size and shape of any of the openings commonly provided in collapsible tubes. Beyond or including the central portion 24, the interior cover has a pressure surface 26, beyond which is an outwardly resilient peripheral portion which, in the present instance, is in the form of a flange 28 which is offset laterally and adapted to bear, when in place, against the interior side wall of the jar so as to provide a resistance to inward movement of the interior cover, and to provide a tight closure at the sides of the interior cover. In order to facilitate such action to enable the interior cover to fit all parts of the tapering and inwardly-curved portions of the interior side walls of the jar, the flange i formed with V-shaped notches 30-eight in the present instancewhich extend upwardly and inwardly from its edge. As exemplified, theflange 28 is carried on an upwardly-bent rim-portion '32, to provide a rim 34 which is U-shaped in cross section.

As exemplified, the interior cover is formed of stiff, flexible, transparent material such as Plexiglas or Vinylite and has a thickness of about one thirty-second of an inch; but it will be appreciated that the interior cover can be formed of any of a wide variety of stifi materials, ranging in thickness from one sixty-fourth of an inch or less to one sixteenth of an inch or more, altho the use, especially at the peripheral portion, of flexible material is advantageous, as is also the formation of the interior cover of transparent material.

In order to avoid wasting the contents of the jar 12, the bottom is formed, in the present instance, with a central protuberance 36 corresponding in shape to the central portion 24 of the interior cover. As will be apparent, pressure on the interior cover, which can most conveniently be applied by the finger to the pressure surface 26, will tend to move the cover downwardly and to cause the extrusion of a column 40 of the cream, ointment, or other flowable contents of the jar thru the opening 25.

As will be appreciated, the invention is capable of embodiment in various forms, both complex and simple. A simple form of interior cover is shown in Fig. 6. This is shown at 22b and comprises a turned-up central portion 24b, a central opening 25b, an upper pressure surface 26b, and a laterally-offset, resilient, downwardly-extending peripheral flange 28b, having V-shaped notches 30. This interior cover, and those mentioned below, may be formed similarly to the cover described above.

In Fig. 7 the cover 220 has a flat pressure surface 260 and an inverted U-shaped rim comprising an upwardlyextending rim portion 44, a resilient bent portion 45, and a dependent resilient flange 28c. Notches (not shown) are provided.

In Fig. 8 there is shown an arrangement similar to that of Fig. 6. The interior cover 22d has a turned-up central portion 24d with an opening 25d smaller than the open ings 25 or 25b, a pressure surface 26d, and a laterallyofiset, resilient flange 28d. Notches 30 are provided.

V flange 28f. corresponding to theflange 28a, depends,

In Fig. 11 there is shown aninterior cover 22g isforrned in a fiat disc which provides a. pressure surface 26g and from whichlaterally-ofiset resilient flanges 48, and 2 8rgrise and depend respectively. Notches 30 (four in the present instance) ar p ov ded. in ach flange InFig. 12 there isshown aninierior cover 22h wherein a central opening 25h is formed in, a convex member which provides a pressure surface 26k and. from which a laterally-offset. resilient fiangezfih depends. Th? flange, as exemplified, is formed with a single notch 30, as shown, at its right-hand side.

Since certain changes may be made, in. the above article and differentembodimentsof the invention could be made without departing from the scope, thereof, it is intended that all matter contained; in theabove description orshown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted; as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim;

1,. A dispenser for flowable semi-solidv materialscomprising a container, a. cap, and an: interior cover having an opening thru which. a column. of theflowable material may be extruded. when pressure is appliedv tothe .upper. surface of the interior cover, said interior cover having a peripheral resilient flange extendingvertically, and outwardly and having in the edge thereof notchesextending' generally vertical from, the, edge, thereof, and having. a normally wider portion at said edge than vertically thereof.

2. A dispenser for flowable semi-solid materials comprising a container, a cap, and an interior cover having an opening thru which a column of the flowable material may be extruded when pressure .is applied to the upper surface of the interior cover, said interior cover having a peripheral portion which extends generally vertically in one vertical direction andgthenvertically and outwardly in the opposite vertical direction to provide a peripheral flange, saidflange-being outwardly resilient and having cuts therein enabling the same to be collapsed against its resiliency. V

3. A dispenser for flowable semi-solid materials comprising a container having innerwallsconverging slightly downwardly and a. dispensing cove-r therefor having an opening thru which a column of the flowable material may be extruded when pressure is applied to the surface of the interior cover, said cover having a peripheral portion which. corresponds to. an inverted U, in. cross section to formaperipheral; outwardly. resilient flangehaving edge portions cut away to permit the collapse of the flange as the cover is moved downwardly withinthe container, the

bottom of said; container-being formed with an annular depression to. receive said. flange when. said cover reaches the bottom thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent, V

UNITED STATES PATENTS 450,754 Golding Apr. 2 1, 1891 1,603,013 Bagley Oct. 12, 1926 2,120,007 Tear June 7, 1938 2,231,412 McCarthy Feb. 11, 1941 2,487,642 DeWaltoff Nov. 8, 1949 2,661,126 Spencer Dec. 1, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS. 632,896 France Oct. 17, 1927 

